Aortic Valve Implant Marks a First in North America

April 14, 2008

April 14 - Doctors implanted the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis, marking the first North American commercial implant after ATS Medical Inc. received Canadian regulatory approval for the device at the end of December, 2007.

The first implant was performed by Benoit de Varennes, M.D., MSc, FRSC, chairman, Division of Cardiac Surgery at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. The patient was a 76-year-old man with aortic valve stenosis. The valve replacement was successful and the patient has been discharged from the hospital in good condition.

The ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis incorporates a design intended to preserve native aortic root geometry and function. Through this approach, the prosthesis is said to more closely mimics native valve function providing hemodynamic function that may contribute to improvements in key determinants of cardiovascular performance such as coronary blood flow and left ventricular mass regression. Data suggests that physiologic stresses, a detriment to bioprosthetic valve longevity, may be more efficiently distributed throughout the prosthetic's leaflets.

"The ATS 3F valve incorporates important characteristics of many other valves all in one product. The hemodynamic characteristics are very good and the valve offers the potential for longer durability. Previous stentless valve designs appeared to have good hemodynamic performance, but complex implantation techniques made many surgeons reticent to use them widely. The ATS 3F valve requires a very simple technique to implant which is easy to reproduce and should lead to more patients benefiting from its many performance attributes," said Dr. de Varennes.